French Cheese Platter: How to Choose, Compose, and Savor Like a Pro
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If there's one symbol of French gastronomy that transcends generations, it's the cheese board . Whether for an elegant dinner, a gourmet aperitif, or a Sunday brunch, cheese brings everyone together around the table. And the good news? You can recreate this quintessentially French moment… even in Germany!
At Le Cornichon , we've selected exceptional PDO cheeses for you, made by passionate producers. Discover how to create a cheese board worthy of a cheesemonger, with perfect pairings and tasting tips.
🇫🇷 Why French cheese is unique
France boasts the largest number of cheeses in the world (over 1,000 listed varieties ). This wealth stems from:
- The diversity of the terroirs : from the meadows of the Jura to the mountains of the Basque Country.
- Artisanal know-how : each cheese is a story, passed down from generation to generation.
- PDO labels : a guarantee of quality and authenticity, ensuring that your cheese has been produced according to traditional methods in a specific region.
💡 Quick reminder: the PDO ( Protected Designation of Origin ) certifies that a cheese is made in its original region, with local milk and protected know-how.
🧩 Creating a balanced cheese board: the different cheese families
For a harmonious cheese board, we recommend mixing at least 4 to 6 cheeses with different textures and flavors. Here are a few suggestions you can find in our shop:
🥛 Soft cheeses with a bloomy rind
- Saint-Marcelin AOP : a small, soft and melting cheese, ideal for spreading.
-Langres AOP : recognizable by its hollow at the top, it is creamy and slightly full-bodied.
🐑 Blue cheeses
- Roquefort AOP : the king of blue cheeses, powerful and melting.
- Bleu d'Auvergne AOP : a milder alternative, perfect for introducing palates.
🧀 Cooked pressed cheeses
- Comté AOP 6 months : mild and fruity, perfect at the beginning of a cheese board.
- Comté AOP 15 months : more intense, with notes of hazelnut.
🧀 Uncooked pressed cheeses
- Morbier AOP : recognizable by its black line, soft and fragrant.
- Ossau-Iraty AOP : a Basque cheese made from sheep's milk, tasty and slightly sweet.
- Reblochon de Savoie AOP : creamy and indulgent, perfect melted or to be enjoyed with a spoon.
🥂 The perfect pairings: wines, breads and charcuterie
A cheese platter is even better when accompanied by:
- French wines : Comté goes wonderfully with a white wine from the Jura, Roquefort loves Sauternes, and Ossau-Iraty pairs perfectly with a fruity red wine from the Southwest.
- Various breads : baguette, walnut bread, country bread.
- Artisanal charcuterie : dry sausage, raw ham… ( discover our charcuterie collection ).
- Delicious accompaniments : jams, honey, nuts and of course… pickles! 🥒
🧊 Storage and tasting: cheesemaker's tips
To fully enjoy the flavors of your cheeses:
- Keep them cool between 4°C and 8°C, ideally in their original paper.
- Take them out 30 to 60 minutes before tasting : the cheese must be at room temperature to release all its aromas.
- Taste from the mildest to the strongest to avoid overwhelming your palate.
- Allow 150 to 200 g of cheese per person if the platter is a dessert, or 250 to 300 g if it is served as a meal.
🎁 The perfect platter… delivered to your door
No need to run around to several cheese shops to prepare your aperitif or French dinner. With Le Cornichon , you can order authentic PDO cheeses online , delivered fresh throughout Germany.
🔗 Discover our complete cheese collection .
📦 Fast delivery, eco-friendly packaging and guaranteed taste.